Loading machine



March 5, 1963 K. w. RANDALL. 3,080,076

LOADING MACHINE Filed 001;. 21, 1959 5 Sheefs-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. KENNETH'W. RANDALL BY ATTORNE'Y March 5, 1963 K. w. RANDALL 3,080,076

1.0mm MACHINE Filed 001.. 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m LD 0 E INVENTOR.

KENNETH W. RANDALL ATTORNEY March 5, 1963 K. w. RANDALL LOADING MACHINE5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21, 1959 INVENTOR. KE NNETH W. RANDALLATTORNEY March 5, 1963 K. w. RANDALL LOADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-$heet 4Filed Oct. 21, 1959 L ml. A D m ma W H T E N N E K ATTORNEY March 5,1963 K. w. RANDALL LOADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 21, 1959INVENTOR. KENNETH W. RANDALL awn/12m.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3, 8%;075 Fatented Mar. 5, 19633,636,?)76 LQABZNG l'i IAQEENE Kenneth W. Elanali, Pomona, (Ialifl,assignor to insley Manufacturing Corporation, Endianapolis, End, acorperation of Indiana Filed Get. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 847,724 4 illairns.(Ql. 214-433) This invention relates to loading machines, but moreparticularly to machines having a bucket at the front which is advancedor crowded relative to the ma.eria1 and thereafter, after being filled,the bucket is elevated and swung to the desired place for dumping, suchfor example as into a truck.

An object is to produce a new and improved front end loader whichembodies toggle mechanism for establishing an exceedingly powerfulcrowding action and is so constructed and arranged that the bucketremains in -a predetermined position relative to the ground surface,thereby to effect a smooth and uniform grade at almost any selectedangle.

Another object is to produce a front end loader in which the bucket iscarried at the outer ends of toggle arms which are hydraulicallyactuated to and from crowded position by hydraulic piston and cylinderassemblies in an unique manner by which hydraulic power concomitantlystriaihtens the toggle arms and depresses the toggle joint.

A further object is to produce a loader machine in which the bucket iscarried by a toggle arm arrangement which itself forms part of amodified and variable parallelogram, the arrangement being such thatcrowding action is effected by straightening out the toggle and due tothe parallelogram, the bucket is maintained at the desired pitch duringworking operation.

A still further object is to produce a front end loader in which thebucket is carried by a boom made up of toggle arms which are poweractuated to advance or retract the bucket, cable means being associatedwith the toggle for controlling the vertical position of the bucket.

A still further object is to actuate by fluid power and through togglemeans the bucket during the crowding action and to control the pitch ortilt of the bucket by fluid pressure means.

A still further object is to produce a simple and efdcient front endloader having the novel features of construction and operationhereinafter described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment ofthe invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a front end loader machine showing thebucket at ground level and in retracted position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 with thebucket in its advanced position;

FIGURE 3 is a view somewhat similar to that of FIG- URES 1 and 2 butshowing the cab and crawler structures by broken lines, and showing thebucket in elevated po sition;

FEGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the bucket and adg'acent partsshowin the bucket in its downwardly tilted or discharge position;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 3, thecables being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the bucket assembly; and

FIGURE 7 is a rear end elevation of the bucket assembly shown in FEGURE6 and taken substantially on the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

T he illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a cab 19 which ismounted on a revolving platform 11 carried by the usual crawler units12, although manifestly instead of crawler units, rubber-tired wheelsmay be employe'. it will be understood that contained within the cab it?is the usual engine (not shown) for imparting motive power to variousdrive mechanisms including a hydraulic pump. Since the particularconstruction and arransement of these mechanisms form no part of thepresent invention, detail illustration and description thereof are notregarded as being necessary.

On the forward end of the cab 10 are two pairs of brackets 13 arrangedat opposite sides thereof and connected to each pair is one end of atoggle arm 14 which extends forwardly of the cab. The pair-s oflaterally spaced arms 14 are connected together for purposes of strengthand rigidity by one or more cross braces Eda. Pivotally connected on across shaft 16 to the front end of each toggle arm 14 are the rear endsof forward toggle arms '15. As shown in FIGURE 5, the pair of togglearms 15 are connected by a series of cross and diagonal strengtheningbraces 15a.

Depending from and secured to each of the rearward toggle arms 14adjacent the rear end thereof is a rigid bracket Y] to which ispivotally connected the rear end of a hydraulic cylinder 18 in whichreciprocates a piston rod 19, the front end of which is pivotallyconnected to the respective forward toggle arm 15 at a point Ztl locatednear the rear end thereof or at a point about one-third of the lengththereof measured from the rear end of same. The cylinder and pistonarrangement 1349 is double acting and hoses 18a and 18b lead to oppositeends thereof from a suitable hydraulic pump in the cab 10, thereby toenable liquid under pressure to be introduced selectively at one end orthe other for driving the piston in the desired direction for spreadingapart the toggle arms as in FIGURE 3 or drawing these arms toward eachother as in FEGURE 1.

The forward end of each of the forward toggle arms 15 is pivoted at 21to the apex portion of a respective bell crank 22. As indicated onFIGURE 7, the bell cranks 22 are laterally spaced and each comprises apair of spaced parts 22a and 22b which are connected by an integral web22c.

The short horizontal arm of each bell crank assembly 22 is pivotallysecured by a pin 23 to the rear face of a bucket 24. The long verticallydisposed arm of each bell crank 22 is pivotally secured at 25 to an arm26 which is generally parallel to the respective toggle arm 15. The rearend of each arm 26 is pivotally connected at 28 to a generallytriangular rock bracket 27. The lower or apex portion of the bracket 27is pivoted to the shaft is. Pivotally connected at 29 to the rearwardlydisposed upper end of each bracket 27 is the front end of a rod 3i?which is generally parallel to the arm 14 and has its rear end pivotedat 31 to a rock bracket 32. The lower end of the rock bracket 32 ispivoted at 33 to a bracket 34 fixed to the cab 19. As shown in FIGURE 5,the two rods 30 are integrally connected by cross braces 3th: andconverge for a portion of their length so that the rear ends aredisposed between and spaced from the toggle arms 14. it will thus beapparent that the arm assembly 39 is an integral fabricated unit.

The bucket 24- has a front open mouth and is formed with a bottom wall35 and vertically disposed side wings 36. integral with a portion of theupper ends of the side wings 36 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclinedback wall 37 and closing a portion of the top of the bucket is anupwardly and forwardly inclined short top wall 38. Suitably secured asby welding on opposite ends of the rear wall 37 are pairs of convergingwing-like brackets 3d and straddling the upper ends of these pairshorizontally disposed cross member 41. A tubular brace member 42 isrigid with the legs of the U structure 49 for strengthening the same.

Hydraulic mechanism is provided for effecting tilting of the bucket 24to and from discharging position and, as shown, a pair of double actinghydraulic cylinders 43 are arranged between the legs of the inverted Ustructure 40. The upper ends of these cylinders are pivotally 'securedto brackets 44 which are rigid with the underside of the horizontalcross member 41. Adjacent opposite end portions of each of the cylinders43 are hose connections 45 at the top 46 and adjacent the bottom, thehoses secured thereto lead to the cab 10 where they are suitablyconnected to a pump and suitable controls so thatliquid under pressuremay be admitted to one end or the other of the cylinders for effectingthe desired movement of'the pistons disposed therein. Connected to thesepistons are'piston rods 47, the lower ends of which are pivotallyconnected to brackets 48 which are rigid with and project outwardly fromthe 'back'wall 37 of the bucket. As particularly shown in FIGURE 6, thebrackets 48 project outwardly a considerable distance beyond thebrackets 39 to which the bell crank structures 22 are pivoted.

Welded to or otherwise securely fixed to the outer end portions of thetoggle arms 15 are rods 49 respectively which, as shown in FIGURE 5,converge at their inner ends which are pivotally connected to a crossshaft G. Depending from the shaft 54) and disposed on oppo- "sit'e'si'de's 'ofthe end portions of the arms 49 are hanger arms 51, thelower ends of which are pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 16.Disposed between the inner ends of the rods 49'is a pulley 52 aboutwhich is passed a cable 53 which also passes about a sheave assembly 54,with one end of'the cable anchored at 53a to the pulley 52 and the otherend wound about a power driven hoist drum 55 Within the cab 10.

The sheave assembly 54 is supported by a jack frame 56' which isvertically disposed and has its lower end pivoted to the rock bracket 32at 57. Also passing around a portion of the sheave .assembly 54 is acable 58 which is suitably passed over a sheave arrangement 59 withinthe cab and extends to a power driven boom hoist '(not shown).

In operation and, assuming the parts are in the position shown in FIGURE1 and it is desired to advance the scoop bucket 24 to grade a'surface,etc., liquid under pressure is delivered to the cylinders '18 throughthe connection 18a for advancing the piston rods 19 thereby tostraighten out the toggle arms 14 and 15. The action of the piston andcylinder assemblies 13 and 19 is such that the toggle arms 14 are forceddownwardly due to the connection between the cylinders 18 and thedepending brackets 17. At the same time the forward toggle arms 15 areforced outwardly by the action of the piston rods 19. This effectsforward or crowding movement to the bucket 24 but in order to maintainthe latter at ground level, the cable 53 is payed out in order to enablethe sheave 52 and adjacent parts, including the arms 49, to movedownwardly. At the same time the arms 30 and 26 which are disposedparallel to the toggle arms 15 and 14 respectively similarly movedownwardly. Thus as the piston rods 19 are extended, the toggle formedby the arms 14 and 15 is moved closer into horizontally alignedposition. During such crowding movement of the bucket, it may benecessary to alter the disposition of the bucket relative to groundlevel by introducing liquid under pressure to the cylinders 43 foreffecting the desired bucket movement. The cable mechanism embodyingthecable 53 controls the lowering or raising of the assembly and as well ascreating a downward pressure and assisting in the crowd action of thebucket itself.

After the bucket 24 has been filled, the entire assembly may be elevatedby operation of the hoist drum 55, taking up on the cable 53 and rockingthe toggle arms 14 and 15 about their pivots on the brackets 13. Toretain the contents within the bucket 24, liquid under pressure may beintroduced to the cylinders 43 through the'connections 45 to extend thepiston rods 47 for moving the bucket substantially to the position shownin FIGURE 3, in which tilted position the contents will remain withinthe bucket.

The cab 10 may then be swung to a suitable position Where it is desiredto dump the bucket 24. If desired, the machine may be advanced on thecrawlers 12 if the load is to be dumped or discharged at a more remoteplace. When the bucket has been moved to the desired place where thecontents are to be discharged, the operator within the cab 1% introducesliquid under pressure to the cylinders 43 and particularly through thehoses 46 for retracting the piston rods 47, thereby to tilt the bucket24 downwardly substantially to the position shown in FIGURE 4 fordischarging the load. After the load has been discharged, the bucketthrough the above described hydraulic connections will be rocked to aposition approaching that of FIGURE 1 so that the boom made up of thevarious parts above described, including. the toggle arms lA-and 15, canbe lowered to the position of FiGURE 1 by retraction of the piston rods19 due to introduction of liquid under pressure to the hose connections18b. This brings the parts to the positionshown in FIGURE 1 preparatoryfor another bucket loading operation. loading, the cable 53 is payed outat the same time the toggle arms 14 and 15 are extended.

By maintaining the parallelogram arrangement made up of the arms 14, '15and 30 and 26, it Will be manifest that when the parts are lifted, asubstantially. parallelogram boom is formed, the lifting taking placethrough the agency of the hoist cable 53 in the region of the jointbetween the toggle arms '14 and 15, the arms 30 and 26 maintaining theirparallel spaced relation due to the manner in which they are mounted attheir opposite ends. An important feature of the invention resides indisposing the bucket at a predetermined position or pitch, unless theoperator desires to raise or lower the lip of the bucket, this enablingthe operator to make a perfectly smooth grade at practically any anglehe desires. This is achieved by the double parallelogram arrangement ofarms above described.

Although this is not shown, it will be understood that a conventionalautomatic pressure release may be provided to relieve the pressure inthe bucket operating cylinders, should the bucket encounter an immovableobject which would otherwise damage the components of the hydraulicsystem.

The boom hoist acting through the cable 58 and associated sheaves isemployed only to control the position of the jack frame 56. In thenormal operation of the machine, the jack frame is maintained in theposition substantially as indicated on the drawings.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operationmay be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention,especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: V

l. A loading machine comprising an ambulatory and revoluble supportingplatform, a bracket on said'platform, an inner toggle arm having one endpivoted to said bracket, a forward toggle arm having one end thereofpivoted to the other end of said first toggle arm forming a togglejoint, a bell crank having its apex pivoted to the other end of saidforward "toggle arm, a scoop bucket, a pivotal connection between onearm of said bell crank It will be understood that in carrying out the rand the rear end portion of said bucket, an arm pivoted to the other armof said bell crank and disposed generally parallel to said forwardtoggle arm, a rock bracket mounted on the pivotal connection betweensaid inner and forward toggle arms and upstanding therefrom, a pivotalconnection between the adjacent end of said parallel arm and said rockbracket, an arm parallel to said inner toggle arm and pivoted to saidrock bracket at one end, an upstanding rock bracket on said platform tothe upper portion of which said last parallel arm is pivoted, a doubleacting linear motor for extending and retracting the toggle arms, abracket depending generally downwardly from the inner toggle armadjacent the inner end thereof to which one end of said linear motor ispivoted, a pivotal connection between the other end of said linear motorand an intermediate portion of the forward toggle arm, and hoist meansincluding a pulley, a first rigid arm having one end pivot-allyconnected to the toggle joint between said inner and forward toggle armsand its other end pivotally connected to said pulley, a second rigid armhaving one end pivotally connected to said pulley and having its otherend pivotally connected to said bell crank, a hoist drum mountedadjacent said platform, and cable means extending from said drum andreeved about said pulley.

2. A loading machine comprising an ambulatory and revoluble supportingplatform, a bracket on said platform, an inner toggle arm having one endpivoted to said bracket, a forward toggle arm pivoted to the other endof said first toggle arm forming a toggle joint, a bell crank having itsapex pivoted to said forward toggle arm, a scoop bucket, a pivotalconnection between one arm of said bell crank and the rear end portionof said bucket, m arm pivoted to the other arm of said bell crank anddisposed generally parallel to the forward toggle arm, a rock bracketmounted on the pivotal connection between the toggle arms and upstandingtherefrom, a pivotal connection between the adjacent end of saidparallel arm and said rock bracket, an arm parallel to said inner togglearm and pivoted to said rock bracket at one end, an up standing rockracket on said platform to the upper portion of which said last parallelarm is pivoted, a double acting linear motor for extending andretracting the tog gle arms, a bracket depending from the inner togglearm adjacent the inner end thereof to which one end of the linear motoris pivoted, a pivotal connection between the other end of the linearmotor and an intermediate portion of the forward toggle arm, and hoistmeans extending from said platform to the pivotal connection between thetoggle arms, said hoist means including pulley means, rigid arm meansextending downwardly from the pulley means to the toggle joint, a rigidarm extending from the pulley means to the front end of the forwardtoggle arm, a hoist drum on the supporting platform, and cable meansreeved from the pulley means to the hoist drum.

3. A loading machine comprising an ambulatory and revoluble supportingplatform, a bracket on said platform, an inner toggle arm having one endpivoted to said bracket, a forward toggle arm pivoted to the other endof said first toggle arm forming a toggle joint, a bell crank having itsapex pivoted to said forward toggle arm, a scoop bucket, a pivotalconnection between one arm of said bell crank and the rear end portionof said bucket, an arm pivoted to the other arm of said bell crank anddisposed generally parallel to the forward toggle arm, a rock bracketmounted on the pivotal connection between the toggle arms and upstandingtherefrom, a pivotal connection between the adjacent end of saidparallel arm and said rock bracket, an arm parallel to said inner togglearm and pivoted to said rock bracket at one end, an upstanding rockbracket on said platform to the upper portion of which said lastparallel arm is pivoted, a double acting linear motor for extending andretracting the toggle arms, a bracket depending from the inner togglearm adjacent the inner end thereof to which one end of the linear motoris pivoted, a pivotal connection between the other end of the linearmotor and an intermediate portion of the forward toggle arm, hoist meansextending from said platform to the pivotal connection between thetoggle arms, said hoist means including pulley means, rigid arm meansextending downwardly from the pulley means to the toggle joint, a rigidarm extending from the pulley means to the front end of the forwardtoggle arm, a hoist drum on the supporting platform, and cable meansreeved from the pulley means to the hoist drum, an upright jack framepivoted to said upstanding rock bracket, a sheave assembly on said jackframe, and means for controlling the position of the jack frame andincluding a cable passing about said last sheave assembly.

4. A loading machine comprising a supporting platform; toggle mecham'smhaving pivotally connected inner and forward toggle arms; a pivotalconnection between the inner end of said inner arm and said platform toafford vertical swinging movement of said arms; a scoop bucket; meansproviding an operative connection between said forward toggle arm andsaid bucket; a double acting linear motor for actuating said togglearms; a mounting for opposite ends of said linear motor, said mountingincluding a bracket extending generally downwardly from the inner end ofsaid inner arm and adjacent to said pivotal connection between the innerend of said inner arm and said platform, a pivotal connection betweenone end of said linear motor and said bracket, and a pivotal connectionbetween the opposite end of said linear motor and said forward togglearm, whereby upon actuation of said linear motor in one directionconcomitant rocking of said inner arm and extension of said forward armof said toggle mechanism toward a position where said toggle arms alignis effected and the opposite action is effected upon actuation of saidlinear motor in the opposite direction; and hoist means from saidplatform to the joint of said toggle arms for controlling the raisingand lowering of said toggle arms and thereby said bucket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,561,694 Clutter Nov. 17, 1925 1,693,809 Clutter Dec. 4, 1928 2,801,012Lederer July 20, 1957 2,835,397 Wagner May 20, 1958 2,965,253 Poulter etal. Dec. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 129,142 Sweden Aug. 15, 1950

1. A LOADING MACHINE COMPRISING AN AMBULATORY AND REVOLUBLE SUPPORTINGPLATFORM, A BRACKET ON SAID PLATFORM, AN INNER TOGGLE ARM HAVING ONE ENDPIVOTED TO SAID BRACKET, A FORWARD TOGGLE ARM HAVING ONE END THEREOFPIVOTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FIRST TOGGLE ARM FORMING A TOGGLEJOINT, A BELL CRANK HAVING ITS APEX PIVOTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAIDFORWARD TOGGLE ARM, A SCOOP BUCKET, A PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE ARMOF SAID BELL CRANK AND THE REAR END PORTION OF SAID BUCKET, AN ARMPIVOTED TO THE OTHER ARM OF SAID BELL CRANK AND DISPOSED GENERALLYPARALLEL TO SAID FORWARD TOGGLE ARM, A ROCK BRACKET MOUNTED ON THEPIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID INNER AND FORWARD TOGGLE ARMS ANDUPSTANDING THEREFROM, A PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ADJACENT END OFSAID PARALLEL ARM AND SAID ROCK BRACKET, AN ARM PARALLEL TO SAID INNERTOGGLE ARM AND PIVOTED TO SAID ROCK BRACKET AT ONE END, AN UPSTANDINGROCK BRACKET ON SAID PLATFORM TO